Male patient, 54 years old, came for examination because of a facial skin lesion that
had appeared about 10 years. Skin lesion often erosion, bleed and then heal on its
own; progresses repeatedly. Recently, the size has been increasing and the bleeding is
taking a long time to heal.
The patient had no previous history of skin cancer, and no one in his family had
malignant skin disease. However, in his youth, the patient participated in many
outdoor activities and was exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time.
Diagnosis: basal cell carcinoma – BCC.
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer, as well as the most
frequently occurring cancer overall, affecting one in every six Americans. The benign
neoplasm arises from damaged undifferentiated basal cells as a result of prolonged
exposure to ultraviolet light, either from the sun or tanning beds. The UV exposure
leads to the formation of thymine dimers, a form of DNA damage, and the longer the
exposure the more thymine dimers are formed. SCC results when the DNA damage if
greater than what the cells can naturally repair.
– BCC most commonly occurs on the head, face, neck, or extremities where skin is
exposed to sun, but can occur anywhere on the body. It usually begins as a small
pearly-white, scaly lesion that outgrows its blood supply, erodes, and eventually
ulcerates.
– BCC also form as a non-healing or expanding chronic rash. The lesion may
bleed easily with any scraping or friction, sometimes the first sign that the individual
notices as being of concern. There may also be prominent telangiectatic surface
vessels, rolled edges, or slightly raised dome shape.
– BCC is painless and slow growing. As previously mentioned, sometimes a BCC will
develop in the base of a non-healing traumatic or surgical wound.
For more information :
Stamford Skin Centre
99 Suong Nguyet Anh, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1
(028) 3925 1990 – 0908 453 338